[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10735]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING BOBBY MORROW

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 9, 2006

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Bobby Morrow, 
of South Texas, and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his shattering 
Jesse Owens' 20-year-old record in the 200-meter dash to gain the title 
of world's fastest person in 1956. Mr. Morrow is a legendary athlete 
and hero to people all over South Texas and the country.
  As a native of South Texas, Bobby Morrow began his long and 
distinguished track career at San Benito High School in San Benito, 
Texas. There Mr. Morrow won a state championship in the 100-meter dash. 
His high school success soon brought many offers from universities to 
run track in college. Bobby Morrow chose Abilene Christian College (now 
University) to pursue his dreams of racing.
  Bobby Morrow honed his lightning starts and sharpened his skills to 
dominate the 100- and 200-meter dashes in the 1950s. In 1955, Mr. 
Morrow won the AAU national title in the 100-meter dash. The next year, 
in 1956, he successfully defended his 200-meter title and added an AAU 
championship in the 200-meter dash.
  Bobby Morrow continued his excellence at the amateur level, capped 
off by qualifying for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, joining an American 
team with an established pedigree. During those 1956 Olympic Games, 
Morrow achieved legendary status, becoming the first person since Jesse 
Owens to win gold in the 100- and 200-meter races. He then won a third 
gold medal while anchoring the United States' worldrecord-setting 400-
meter relay team.
  During the 1956 Olympic games, Morrow not only won gold medals, but 
he won them in record breaking fashion. Morrow gained the title of 
``world's fastest person'' by breaking Jesse Owens' 200-meter world-
record time that had stood for 20 years.
  Morrow's accomplishments were widely celebrated in South Texas and 
all across the United States. Mr. Morrow appeared on the cover of Life 
Magazine; and Sports Illustrated named him the ``Sportsman of the 
Year.'' Morrow also received the Sullivan Award, given each year to 
honor the nation's top athlete.
  Throughout the years, Bobby Morrow has continued to accumulate honors 
and accolades that celebrate his incredible athletic career. In 1975, 
Morrow was inducted to the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame. He was 
honored by his alma mater when Abilene Christian University placed him 
the school's Sports Hall of Fame in 1988. In 1989, Morrow was also 
elected into the Olympic Hall of Fame.
  Bobby Morrow has been an inspiration to thousands of people in South 
Texas and across America. His accomplishments on the track have been 
celebrated and will be celebrated for many years to come. I ask the 
House of Representatives to join me today in celebrating Mr. Bobby 
Morrow on the 50th anniversary of his world-record-setting race.

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